The Tragedy Academy

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, hosts Jay Hicks and Gary DeFranco engage in a deeply moving conversation with Jon, a resilient individual who shares his remarkable journey of tragedy and triumph. Prepare to be inspired as Jon fearlessly opens up about his near-death experiences, trauma, and the transformative power of embracing authenticity and finding strength in the face of adver...

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, host Jay Hicks engages in a powerful conversation with Kristal Klear, the founder of the Rock Paper Scissors Foundation. The episode delves into themes of tragedy, triumph, forgiveness, and love within African American communities. Kristal shares her insights and experiences as an entrepreneur, certified trauma coach, published author, and licensed p...

??We're back with Part 2 of this enchanting episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, where Jay and Gary continue conversing with the magical maestro, Dallas Fueston. Journey further into Dallas' unique universe of art and illusion as we explore the depths of creativity, the struggles inherent to artistic endeavors, and the relentless pursuit of the craft. In this part, we dive deeper into the artis...

??In this captivating episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, Jay and Gary sit down with Gary’s long-time friend and magical visionary, Dallas Fueston. Get ready to be captivated as Dallas shares his journey of tragedy and triumph, revealing the intricate world of magic, creativity, and the challenges of blending art with business. Step into the extraordinary world of Dallas Fueston, a creative ge...

??In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, hosts Jay Hicks & Gary DeFranco sit down with Dr. Hogan Sherrow, a renowned primatologist and expert in human behavior. Through candid and thought-provoking discussions, they explore the depths of the human condition, drawing insights from Dr. Sherrow's extensive research and experiences studying primates in their natural habitats. Join us as we pe...

??In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, host Jay Hicks sits down with Keli Kane, a Kindergarten Reading Specialist, Reiki Master, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor who shares her story of tragedy and triumph. Together, they discuss Keli's journey, her challenges, and the newfound abilities she discovered due to her injury. ?? Join Jay, Keli, and co-host Gary DeFranco as they dive...

??In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, host Jay Hicks sits down with Joseph Grable, a talented filmmaker, actor, and podcast host who shares his story of tragedy and triumph. In this inspiring conversation, they discuss overcoming adversity, the importance of mental health awareness, and how to find happiness amidst life's challenges. Join Jay and Joseph as they delve into the world of...

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast??, host Jay Hicks sits down with attorney Parrish, who advocates for prisoners suffering from medical negligence. This candid conversation delves into the prison system's flaws, its impact on inmates and prison staff, and legal advocacy's critical role in addressing medical negligence. Join Jay and his guest, attorney Parrish, as they dive into the wo...

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, host Jay sits down with Adam Gunton, founder of "Recovered on Purpose," who shares his story of overcoming addiction and finding a life of purpose. Through candid and humorous discussions, Adam and Jay explore the root causes of addiction and the importance of authenticity and purpose in achieving lasting recovery. This episode is a must-listen for a...

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, host Jay sits down with Jodie Shihadeh, an entertainment attorney who shares her journey in helping artists navigate the music industry. Jodie discusses her passion for working with creators, addressing industry issues, and activism throughout her life. ?? Join them as they discuss Jodie Shihadeh's incredible journey from playing drums as a teenager...

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast ?, Jay Hicks and Gary DeFranco sit down with Cam F. Awesome ?, a former heavyweight boxing champion ? and comedian ? who shares his story of embracing adversity with humor ?. In this episode, he shares his unique perspective on life and offers insights into how humor can help us cope with tragedy and overcome adversity. In this episode, we explore the...

From Detainment to Domination: The Incredible Story of Surviving 14 Days in Beijing prison In this episode, we chat with Chancellor Jackson, an author, coach, and entrepreneur who shares his harrowing experience of being arrested and detained in Beijing for 14 days. Join us as we discuss his journey, his book, and how he found the strength to overcome his adversity. In This Episode, You'll Learn:...

The Power of Self-discovery, Authenticity, and Parenting a child with Autism - Interview with Sasha Rogers In this insightful interview, we chat with Sasha Rogers, a fitness counselor, coach, and mother of an autistic child, about self-discovery, the power of authenticity, and her experiences parenting a child with autism. Sasha shares her journey of overcoming personal and cultural barriers and t...

Inside the Magic Mushroom with Rev. Gabriel Castillo Introduction: In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, hosts Jay Hicks and Gary DeFranco sit down with Gabriel Castillo, a spiritual teacher and facilitator of plant medicine ceremonies. Gabriel shares his personal journey of healing from childhood trauma through plant medicine and discusses the benefits and risks of using psychedelics fo...

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, host Jay Hicks sits down with Audrey Hope, a healer and addiction specialist with over 20 years of experience. Together, they explore the power of hope in the face of tragedy and the importance of staying true to oneself in the midst of life's challenges. Through personal anecdotes and insights from years of working with addicts and celebrities, Audr...

"Exploring Mentalism, Martial Arts, and Self-Discovery with Jon Pritchard" On this episode of The Tragedy Academy Podcast, hosts Jay Hicks and Gary DeFranco are joined by special guest Jon Pritchard, a professional mentalist, ?martial artist, author, and coach. Jon shares his journey of self-discovery and how he has balanced his stage character with who he is. He discusses the importance of utiliz...

"From Raves to Riches: How Jon Grauman Went from Promoting Raves to Selling Luxury Real Estate" In this episode ?? of the Tragedy Academy podcast ?, listeners are treated to an inspiring conversation with Jon Grauman ?, a former rave promoter turned real estate mogul. Jon shares his incredible journey to success, which is a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and hard work. ? Thro...

Introduction: In this episode of The Tragedy Academy, Jay and Gary sit down with Alissa Musto to discuss her life experiences and how she has overcome adversity with candor and humor. ? A child of musicians, she could read music before words. A Harvard Grad and former Ms. Massachusetts. She opens up about her journey and shares her insights on resilience and perseverance. ? As well as her emotiona...

Welcome to The Tragedy Academy, where our guest Joe Legolvan shares his journey of overcoming personal tragedy and transforming his life into a successful real estate investor, entrepreneur, and mindset and life transformation coach. Introduction: In this episode, we have Joe Legolvan, a father, multimillionaire real estate investor with over 100 doors, owner of four businesses, and a mindset and...

Welcome to episode 78 of the Tragedy Academy, where we explore the stories of those who have overcome great struggles and come out on top. This week, Jay sits down with Susan Gold, a woman who has turned her own personal tragedy into a successful career as a producer and talent broker. Susan shares her inspiring journey of using her ability to discern where people are best applied, honed from her...

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy podcast, host Jay Hicks interviews Anthony Hyland, the focus of the new docu-series "Clout." The series details Hyland's personal struggle to clear his name after false allegations of sexual assault were made against him. The episodes provide a raw and emotional examination of the impact of these false accusations on Hyland's life and the lives of those aroun...

In this special nighttime detention episode of the Tragedy Academy Podcast, host Jay and co-host Gary welcome special guest Pearl Gonzalez, a professional boxer and MMA fighter known for her power in combat sports. Pearl is a rising star in the fighting world, and she's here to talk about her career, aspirations, and life. Oh yeah, and to slap the hell out of Gary for an opportunity to be in Dana...

In this episode of The Tragedy Academy, Jay, Gary, and guest Marina Hernandez have a thought-provoking and insightful conversation about cultural identity and the challenges and celebrations that come with it. Marina, a Chicana business owner and photographer in East Las Vegas shares her experiences of being told she does not belong in certain environments because of her ethnicity and style. Despi...

Join Jay & Gary on the latest episode of The Tragedy Academy podcast as they explore the journey of finding authenticity and starting a successful podcast. In this candid conversation, Jay reflects on his past as a self-centered and narcissistic person and how he has learned to value different things in life. Gary asks Jay about his decision to leave a successful career in corporate America to pur...

Summary On this week's "Detention" episode, Jay & Gary, our favorite delinquents, have brought up some seriously "heavy-hitting" topics. They were supposed to have Jay as a guest. Instead, things turned unexpected when Gary told a hilarious story about an attempt to put a bear in the UFC locker room courtesy of Johnny Knoxville of Jackass fame. But that's not all! They also dive into the exciting...